Steering appliance



O. M. FEIGHTNER.

STEERING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22, 1911.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET t.

0. M. FEIGHTNER.

STEERING APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.2Z, 1917.

1,364,872. Patented Jan. 11, 1921..

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

FIEWGI O. M. FEIGHTNER.

I STEERING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED ]AN.22,1917.

1,3@4,8'72. Patented Jan. 11, W21.

3 SHEETSSHEEI a.

ORRIE M. FEIGI-ITNER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

STEERING APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,679.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ORRIE M. FEIGHTNER, acitizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of'Cuyahoga, and State "of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements='in Steering Appliances, of which the following is a specification, theprinciple of the invention being herein explained, and the best mode inwhich I have contempleted applying that. principle, so as to distinguishit from other inventions.

My invention relates tofsteering appli ances and particularly. to thatclass of such devices in which the result is effected by fluid pressure.

The annexed drawings and the following v j, description set forth indetail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means,however, illustrating only a few of the various mechanical forms inwhich the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings: 1

Figure 1 represents a plan view of one form of my improved steeringappliance as applied to an automobile; Fig. 2 represents acentralvertical section of another form thereof, showing some features in sideelevation; Fig. 3 represents a central longitudinal section of theelements shown in elevation in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents a transversesection taken in the plane indicated by the line 44, Fig. 2; Fig. 5represents a plan view of the compression cylinders shown in Fig. 2;Fig. 6 represents a plan view of the form of appliance shown in Fig. 2,as ap plied to an automobile; and' Fig. 7 represents a longitudinalsection, taken in the planes indicated by the lines VIIVII, Fig. 6.

In the annexed drawings a compression cylinder is indicated at 1 with apiston 2, the latter being secured to a sleeve 3 mounted on the reducedportion 4 of a hollow steering rod 5 formed with an external threadedportion 6. Said steering rod 5 is longitudinally movable within a sleevemember 7 formed with a cooperating internal threaded portion 8. Acylindrical exterior member 9 surrounding the sleeve member 7 is formedwith two arms 10 and a plate 11. of which the latter is bolted to aflange 12 of the cylinder 1 to form one head of said cylinder. A nut 7'is screwed tightly up against the member 9 and upon the sleeve member 7.The sleeve 3 is held in position by a nut 13 relatively to thelongitudinal movement of the rod 5. A hand wheel 14 is shown attached tothe steering rod 5. Furthermore,

a motor 15 is provided having reversing mechanism 16, motor shaft. 17,provided with a worm 18 adapted to mesh with gear wheel 19 secured tosleeve member 7. Said,

motor and allied mechanisms may .be utilized to effect the longitudinalmovement of the steering rod 5 in lieu of the steering wheel 14. Whenthe steering rod 5 is actuated by the motor, said steering rod isprevented from turning by means of'the operator holding the hand wheel14. Nuts 20 mounted upon the sleeve 3 are secured to bosses 21 upon thecylinder 1.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, a second compression c linder 22 isshown secured to the axle 26 0 an automobile, said cylinder 22 beingprovided with reciprocable piston 23, said cylinder and piston beingintersected by a rod 24: pivoted to steering arms 25 secured to thesteering knuckles of axle 26. Furthermore, the piston 23 is secured tothe rod 24 so as tobe longitudinally movable within the cylinder 22 uponthe actuation of said rod 24. A pair of liquid passages 27 intersect thecylinders 1 and 22 upon either side of the pistons 2 and 23 thereof,respectively; An indicator denoting angularity is shown at 36 and aby-pass at 37, the latter being provided with a valve 38 for positionadjustment of the piston 2. The indicator 36 is provided for the purposeof greatly assisting the operator or driver, especially when he isrequired to move his car forward or reverse in order to extract the carfrom a congested condition, said indicator being attached to the frontaxle 26 by a suitable bearing (not shown) which carries the'flexibleshaft 36' of the indicator provided with a gear segment 39 whose radiusis equivalent to the length of the steering arms 25, said gear segment39 being engaged with a rack 40 which iscarried upon the rod 24. Anindicating dial and needle 41 is connected to the flexible shaft 36 andplaced in any convenient position in plain view of the driver. Theflexible shaft 36 may also be directly connected to the steeringknuckles at the axle position of the latter and in this latterarrangement the indicator 36 may be operated without the segment 39 andthe rack 40 previously described.

It is evident from the foregoing descrip tion and the accompanyingdrawing that the actuation of the rod 5 either by means of the steeringwheel 14 or the motor 15, will effect, through the pressure of theliquid contained in cylinders 1 and 22 and passages 27, the desiredturning action of the steering knuckles secured to the axle 26. Thepressure of the liquid on the faces of the pistons 2 and 23 will preventsaid pistons from rotating.

A second form of my improved steering appliance is shown in Figs. 2, 6and 7, said form being particularly adapted both for use on anautomobile, and on a shaper, planing machine or other tool operated bybelt, motor or similar power. The claims of this application are limitedto constructions adapted for use on an automobile. Then this type ofsteering appliance is designed for automobile use, the appliance isplaced upon the frame members of the automobile and connected by thelink 33, hereinafter more fully mentioned to the steering arms of thefront axle with ball and socket connections 35 and 36. A rod 39- isconnected to the link 33 by the ball and socket connection 35 and acurved arm 38 is connected to the rod 39 by the ball and socketconnection 36 and also rigidly secured to one of the steering arms 25.In this form of device a compound cylinder member 28 is provided whichcarries the cylinder 1 previously described, said relation being plainlyshown in Fig. 5, said compound cylinder member 28 being provided withtwo reciprocable pistons 29 connected by links 30 and yoke 31, to eitherend of which yoke said links are pivoted. The yoke 31 is secured to ashaft 32 to which is also secured a link 33. This link 33, when theappliance is used on a shaper, planing machine or other tool, isconnected to a crank arm 34, Fig. 2, which in-turn is actuated by acrank (not shown) the revolving of which effects the reciprocations ofthe planer or other tool being used. It is evident from an inspection ofFig. 2 that the compound cylinder member 28 comprises two liquidcontaining compartments within which the pistons 29 reciprocate and alower compartment-within which the pivotal action of the aforementionedlinks 30 and 33 and yoke 31 takes place. In this form of the device, thecylinder members 1 and 28 are adapted to be placed in the frame of theshaper or other tool and the piston 2 connected by a rod (not shown) tothe ram of the tool. As plainly shown in said Fig. 2, liquid passages 35intersect the cylinder 1 upon either side of the piston 2 and therespective liquid containing compartments of the cylinder member 28.

When the last mentioned type of steering appliance is utilized fortransmitting power to the ram'of ashaper or other tool requirmg areciprocatmg motion, the action of the appliance is reversed, the powerbeing applied to the yoke 31 by means of crank and I cate in reversedirections, thus causing fluid to enter into the container 1 on one sideof the piston2, forcing said piston to the opposite side of saidcylinder 1. In this form of device the piston 2 is connected to a rod(not shown) which intersects the cyl inder 1, which rod is attached tothe ram of the shaper or other tool. As mentioned above in this form ofappliance, the cylinder members 1 and 28 will be secured to the columnor frame of the tool. Furthermore, as will be evident, in this form ofdevice the motor 15, gear wheel 19, steering wheel 14 and all connectedparts are eliminated. In this form of device the aforementioned by-pass37 with its valve 38 is very essential for adjusting purposes inasmuchas the said valve may be opened and the position of the ram of the toolmay be adjusted to any extreme or intermediate point within the limitsof the mechanisms.

lVhat I claim is 1; In steering appliances, the combination of steeringmeans and a steerable member; a reciprocable member connected to saidsteerable member; a fluid container; reciprocably movable non-rotatablemeans disposed in said container and connected to said first-mentionedreciprocable member; fluid passages intersecting said container uponboth sides, respectively, of said nonrotatable means; and non-rotatablemeans adapted to be reciprocated by said steering means and affectingthe pressure in said fluid passages, respectively.

2. In steering appliances, the combination with a steerable member; of asteering rod, means adapted longitudinally to reciprocate the latter, afluid container through which said rod passes, a longitudinally-movable,non-rotatable piston mounted upon said rod within said container, andfluid passages intersecting said container upon both sides of saidpiston and operatively connected to said steerable member.

3. In steering appliances, the combination with a motor, a steering rod,an axle and wheels; of a fluid container, a piston within the latteradapted to be reciprocated by the pressure of the fluid in saidcontainer, means connecting said axle and said piston, inlet and outletfluid passages intersecting said fluid container upon opposite sides ofsaid piston, a screw member formed upon said steering rod, a cooperatinglongitudinally fixed secondscrew member adapted to be actuated by saidmotor, and means adapted, upon the movement of said steering rod, toaffect the fluid pressure in said fluid passages, said rod being adaptedto be prevented manually from rotating.

- connecting said axle and said piston, a secspectively,

4. In steering appliances, with a motor, a steering rod, an axle andwheels; of a fluid container, a piston within the latter adapted to berec'iprocated by the pressure of the fluid in said container, meansconnecting said axle and said piston, a second fluid container andpiston, said lastnamed piston being secured to said steering rod, fluidpassages connecting said containers upon opposite sides of said pistons,re-

a screw member formed upon said steering rod, and acoliiperatinglongitudinally fixed second screw member adapted to beactuated by said motor, said rod being adapted to be prevented manuallyfrom rotating.

5. In steering appliances, the combination with a motor, alongitudinally movable steering rod and hand wheel, an axle and wheels;of a fluid container, a piston within the latter adapted to bereciprocated by the pressure of the fluid in said container, means 0ndfluid container and piston, said lastnamed piston being mounted uponsaid steeringirod, :fluid passages connecting said containers uponopposite sides of said pisthe combination 7 tons, respectively,

a screw member formed.

upon said steering rod exteriorly of said.

d and I hand a second fluid con passages connecting said containersuponopposlte sides of the said pistons, respectively, a screw memberformed upon said steering rod exteriorly of said second-named fluidcontainer, and a longitudinally fixed .gear wheel mounted upon saidsteering rod and provided with an extendedintern'allythreaded hub membercoiiperating with said steering rod screw member, said being operativelyconnected to said motor.

. Signed by me, this 9 day of January, 1916.

onnm M. "FEIGHTNER gear wheel

